Grace From Galatians (19 Of 19)

In this letter we have been able to see:

1. Paul wrote to the Galatians out of a heart of love.

2. Paul wrote to the Galatians out of a heart of disappointment because they had so soon turned from the doctrine of grace to a false doctrine.

3. Paul wrote to the Galatians out of a heart of concern because they had allowed false teachers to enter their church and allowed them to:

• Trash the gospel of grace

• Trash him as an apostle

Let’s look at the last passage of scripture that Paul wrote to the Galatians. We see three things, such as -

I. THE FACTS

This letter contains some facts that needed to be brought to their attention.

Illus: Did you hear about the hillbilly woman that sent her nephew a letter letting him know how things were going back home. It went like this:

Dear Arnold,

I'm writing this letter slow because I know you can't read fast. I do not know if you have heard, we don't live where we did when you left home. Your Pa read in the newspaper that most accidents happen within 20 minutes of your home, so we moved. I won't be able to send you the address because the last family that lived here took the house numbers when they moved so they wouldn't have to change their address.

About that coat you wanted me to send; your Uncle Bubba said it would be too heavy to send in the mail with the buttons on, so we cut them off and put them in the pockets.

Your sister had a baby this morning, but I haven't found out what it is yet so I don't know if you are an aunt or uncle. The baby looks just like your brother.

Three of your friends went off a bridge in a pickup truck. Butch was driving. He rolled down the window and swam to safety. Your other two friends were in the back, they drowned because they couldn't get the tailgate down.

I better close this letter, I just thought you might want to know what is going on back home.

Your Favorite Aunt

In this letter that Paul wrote to the Galatians, he let them know the facts.

WHAT ARE THE FACTS OF THIS LETTER?

Paul normally dictated his letters to a scribe.

WHY DID HE DICTATE HIS LETTERS?

It is believed by many that he had poor vision.

Illus: Did you hear about the fellow that said to his friend, "Let's go over to that restaurant and get something to eat." The man had a Doberman Pinscher and his friend had a “weiner dog” with him. The friend said, “We can’t do that, we have our dogs with us.”

The guy with the Doberman Pinscher says, "Just follow my lead." They walked over to the restaurant and the guy with the Doberman put on a pair of dark glasses, and he started to walk in. A guy at the door says, "Sorry, mac, no pets allowed." The guy with the Doberman Pinscher says, "You don't understand. This is my seeing-eye dog." The guy at the door says, "A Doberman Pinscher?" He says, "Yes, they're using them now, they're very good." The guy at the door says, "Come on in."

The guy with the “weiner dog” says, "Ok, he got by with it, let me try it now!" He puts on a pair of dark glasses and starts to walk in. The guy at the door says, "Sorry, pal, no pets allowed."

The fellow with the “weiner dog” says, "You don't understand. This is my seeing-eye dog." The guy at the door says, “A weiner dog?"

The guy with the “weiner dog” says, "You mean they gave me a ‘weiner dog’?" The man said, “Ok, come on in with your ‘weiner dog’!”

We do not know exactly how severe Paul’s eye problems were, but they seem to be severe.

He mentioned something about his physical handicap in Galatians 4:14-15, we read, “And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.”

The reason he mentions that they would have plucked out their own eyes and given them to him, was because at that time they loved him and would have given their eyes to him if they could.

WHEN DID HE START TO HAVE THIS EYE PROBLEM?

Some believe it goes back to his conversion.

Look at Acts 9:1-9, we read, “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.”